SUBJECT FORENSIC SCIENCE

Paper No. and Title PAPER No. 8: Questioned Document

Module No. and Title MODULE No.3: Features of Handwriting

Module Tag FSC_P8_M3

FORENSIC SCIENCE Paper No.8: Questioned Document

Module No.3: Features of Handwriting
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Learning Outcomes
2. Introduction to handwriting
3. Principles of handwriting
4. Features of handwriting
5. Summary

FORENSIC SCIENCE Paper No.8: Questioned Document

Module No.3: Features of Handwriting
 1. Learning Outcomes

After studying this module, you will be able to

 What is handwriting
 Learn the principle of handwriting
 Identify the features of handwriting which help in individualization of
handwriting.

2. Introduction to Handwriting

Certain visual signs or marks which are accepted by two or more fellowmen or group or
person individual of a town, city or country as a means of communication of informing
one’s idea to others for particular matter or understanding or sending message to other is
in a broad sense known as ‘handwriting’. This may include painting, drawing or
embossing.

In other words, writing is practically visible speech or the talking paper and by all its
thousands of peculiarities in combination is the most personal and individual thing that a
man does that leaves a record which can be seen and studied.

3. Principles of Handwriting

The identification of handwriting is based on some established scientific principles which

are listed below:
1) The handwriting of every mature writer is personal and individual to him alone.
2) It is impossible for a person to produce exactly same that has been written first.
There must be a natural variation in the writing of the same person.
3) From the above principle, it is a fact that one cannot write two signatures
precisely alike.
4) If two of signatures are alike then one of them is forged.
5) Every person’s writing undergoes gradual changes in the course of life, however,
in most of the cases the changes are very slow and they may not be discernible.
6) Two different persons cannot write in similar style.
7) A writer cannot exceed his writing skill and ability unless he makes serious
efforts and practice.

FORENSIC SCIENCE Paper No.8: Questioned Document

Module No.3: Features of Handwriting
 8) A person cannot adopt different styles of writing at different times, as to change
one’s normal style of writing us an exceeding difficult task.
9) A disguise is always superficial. Disguise leads to an inferior quality of writing.
10) The attempt of disguise in most of the cases is simple in nature.

4. Features of Handwriting

Handwriting is formed by various elements and every element has some value in the
process of comparison, though their importance may be different in different writing.
Signature and handwriting are identified through critical study and comparison of
unconscious writing habits, individual characteristics, structure of individual letters and
their combinations with each other.

Handwriting is not compared by mechanical methods rather they are compared on the
basis of detailed observation and scientific evaluation of that observation in the light of
basic identification rules and expertise. The several characteristics features which go to
establish a personal writing habits may comprise of writing movement, writing skills, line
quality, writing slant, writing speed, spacing, size and proportions, style of writing, pen
pressure, pen positioning, quality of strokes, shading, alignment, arrangement, formation
etc. which produce particular form of writing.

4.1 Movement in writing

Movement: The manner in which the finger, hand, forearms or whole arm move to
produce writing is called writing movement or movement in writing.

The movement employed in the formation of letters, figures and words are classified in
the following classes on the basis of the fulcrum, used-

1. Finger movement
2. Wrist movement
3. Forearm movement
4. Whole-arm movement
5. Their various combinations

FORENSIC SCIENCE Paper No.8: Questioned Document

Module No.3: Features of Handwriting
 Finger movement
In finger movement, the letters are formed by the action of thumb and first and second
finger. The hand and arm remains inactive except for lateral motion. The finger
movement is the initial movement in writing and it is classed as poor movement due to
the excessive grip and concentration on the writing instrument.

The writing written with finger movement usually show-

1. Lower order of writing skill is sometimes labored and drawn movement

lacking rhythm and fluency.
2. Lack of clear cut smooth strokes and presence of broad curves.
3. Irregular curves and ill-defined connections between letters.
4. Irregular or heavy pen pressure and slow writing speed.

Wrist movement

Writing with the wrist movement is produced by the action of hand as a whole and finger
with wrist as pivot or center of motion.

The writing with wrist movement usually show-

1. Fair degree of writing speed and fine edges of strokes.

2. Angular connection at the top and bottom of letters and narrow curves.
3. Usually tapering terminals of letters.
4. Uneven alignment with ascending tendency.
5. Well defined curves and smooth connections.

Sometimes when writing is written in faster speed, some of the letters may become
illegible and show inferior quality of strokes. This type of writing movement is employed
by a great majority of individual.

FORENSIC SCIENCE Paper No.8: Questioned Document

Module No.3: Features of Handwriting
 Forearm movement
This type of movement is employed by those who have a higher degree of muscular
coordination and command over the writing instrument.

The movement of hand and arm with the elbow resting on the table as the center of
motion is known as forearm movement.

Forearm movement when combined with the action of the finger and wrist movement
produces clear round and oval writing. The arm increases the degree of speed and the
finger and thumb produce legible forms of letters.

The writing produced with forearm movement usually portrays:

1. Well defined formation of letters and higher order of writing skill.
2. Clear cut symmetrical strokes.
3. Rapid writing speed.
4. Uniform base line.
5. Sharp and clear cut edges of strokes.
6. Flying start and tapering terminals.
7. Fine and graduated pen pressure.

Whole- arm movement

Whole- arm movement is the action of arm without resting point and pivot. This class of
writing movement produces longer and embellished strokes and it is generally employed
in forming capital letters of large size, in black board writing and in very large writing
written by artists on sign boards etc.

It should be noted that the person who is habitual to write with finger movement cannot
adopt the higher movement that is wrist movement, forearm movement or the whole-arm
movement. However, the writer of higher movement may descend to lower movement in
some special circumstances. Therefore, it is not possible for the writer of finger
movement to forge the writings or signature written with wrist or forearm movement.

FORENSIC SCIENCE Paper No.8: Questioned Document

Module No.3: Features of Handwriting
 4.2 Pen Pressure
Pen pressure may be defined as the force or pressure applied on the writing instrument
during writing operation. The acquisition of the habit of pen pressure is automatic and
unconscious. This writing’s characteristics is one of the most fixed and is a personal habit
and it infuses life to writing.

Pen pressure in a signature or writing can be seldom stimulated by the forger at the exact
locations and in correct degree due to the reasons that firstly a forger normally does not
give attention to such a minute and hidden characteristics and secondly it is beyond the
power of a forger to apply similar pressure on the writing instrument and give similar
emphasis at certain points which are employed by the actual writers, the habit acquired
by the long practice and individual taste.

Pen pressure can be classified in following main classes-

1. Light pen pressure

2. Heavy pen pressure
3. Medium pen pressure
4. Graduated pen pressure

Application of light pen pressure produces fine strokes and this type of writing pressure is
generally applied by skilled writers having good muscular coordination and command
over the writing instrument.

The heavy pen pressure is generally applied by the children in the initial stage of learning
to write, by illiterate, by forgers and by the persons for whom the act of writing becomes
a difficult task due to one or the other reason. The heavy pen pressure may also cause
indentation in the paper if writing support is not too hard.

The degree of pen pressure which lies between the light and heavy pen pressure is
referred to as medium pen pressure.

In graduated pen pressure there is harmonious manner according to the individual taste of
the writer.

FORENSIC SCIENCE Paper No.8: Questioned Document

Module No.3: Features of Handwriting
 In forged writing, since the main motive of the forger is to copy the design of letters or
other glaring features, therefore while drawing the stroke, he does not usually care for the
relative width of strokes at different places or for the pressure applied in the formation of
letters and he may produce the strokes with varying and inconsistent pen pressure.

4.3 Shading
Shading is defined as the variation in the width of the strokes. Shading is considered to be
the visual record of the manner in which the pen was moved on the paper that is the angle
at which the pen was held with respect to the writing surface and with respect to the line
of writing, pen pressure applied and the emphasis of the pen at particular points.

Shading habit is an involuntary act personal to each writer, resulting from his
individualized habit of holding the pen at certain angle, applying pen pressure and
twisting the pen at curves according to his ability and taste. The shading may be smooth,
graduated, rough and irregular, heavy, explosive or bunchy, rare or accidental.

4.4 Pen Position

Pen position refers to the position and angle of pen with respect to writing surface as well
as with respect to the line or direction of writing. The manner and angle of holding the
pen are the most individualized and fixed writing habits and can neither be easily
disguised nor copied or simulated.

Pen position also depends on the writing surface. Everyone holds pen at different
positions varying from almost vertical from the writing surface. When the pen is held in
vertical position, it produces fine thin lines of uniform width, the shading is very less or
almost negligible and the strokes are lifeless and sometimes scratchy. When the pen is
held at very low angle, it produces broad strokes with heavy shading.

4.5 Writing Speed

Writing speed cannot be determined/ measured with the help of an instrument rather it is
judged from the nature of strokes by keen observation and guiding principles. The speed
is directly related with the movement, that is, higher the degree of writing movement the
greater is the writing speed unless writing speed is deliberately changed in disguise
writing or it gets affected at the time of forging the signature or writing.

FORENSIC SCIENCE Paper No.8: Questioned Document

Module No.3: Features of Handwriting
 Generally the writing or signature written in slow speed can be easily distinguished from
those written in fast speed.

Following principles may be helpful in ascertaining the writing speed properly:

1. Writing portraying heavy pen pressure, blunt starts, blunt terminals and pen
lifts indicate slow speed.
2. Well defined rhythmic strokes and tapering terminals indicate fast speed.
3. The presence of tremors, retouching and pen pauses in the strokes show slow
speed.

4.6 Writing Slant

The inclination of letters or their strokes with the actual or imaginary base line is known
as writing slant. The importance and role of this writing habit in comparison of writing
vary from person to person. Since, the change of writing slant results in marked
difference in the appearance of writing therefore most favorable and common disguise in
court specimen writing and anonymous letters is a change in the slant.

A correct interpretation of this habit may also prove very useful in case of fraudulent
addition and alteration because the preparatory may not be able to align the writing slant
of added writing or figures with the original writing or figures or he may not be conscious
of the fact that the slight changes in the writing slant if the added writings may cause
major changes in the fate of a case.

The slant can be measured with the help of a protractor.

4.7 Size

Size of writing may vary from person to person. In some writing or signature this habit
may have little importance, whereas in some writing or signature, the size may play a
significant role in determining their genuineness or otherwise. The writer may reduce the
size of writing according to the available space for writing. The size may be classified as
long, medium, small or irregular.

FORENSIC SCIENCE Paper No.8: Questioned Document

Module No.3: Features of Handwriting
 5. Summary

 Any written mode which conveys some message or accepted by group of

individuals is referred to as handwriting.
 There are some principles which help in examination of handwriting features.
 The several characteristics features which goes on to establish a personal writing
habits may comprise of writing movement, writing skills, line quality, writing
slant, writing speed, spacing, size and proportions, style of writing, pen pressure,
pen positioning, quality of strokes, shading, alignment, arrangement etc.
 There are some parameters which help in individualization of handwriting form as
being forged or genuine.

FORENSIC SCIENCE Paper No.8: Questioned Document

Module No.3: Features of Handwriting